In 1863, Georges Bizet premiered an exotic opera that initially failed with critics
Long before 'Carmen' became a global sensation, Georges Bizet struggled to find success with an exotic tale of love and betrayal set among the pearl divers of ancient Ceylon.
In 1863, the Theatre Lyrique in Paris premiered 'Les pecheurs de perles', an opera that today is celebrated for its lush melodies and the famous 'Temple Duet'. At the time, however, critics were remarkably harsh, accusing the young Bizet of creating a 'noisy' and 'unmelodious' score that mimicked Richard Wagner too closely.
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